The Young Engineers in Mexico eBook

On the day announced, at about eleven in the morning,
two automobiles reached Don Luis’s home.
Besides the mine owner the cars contained nine other
travelers, all Americans.

These were the investors who were expected to buy
El Sombrero at a price of two and a half million
dollars.

Over at the camp Tom and Harry saw the party arrive.
They could see the travelers being served with refreshments
on the veranda.

“There’s the crowd, Harry. And here’s
a car, coming this way, undoubtedly for us.
Now, we’ve got to go over there for our first
practice as bunco men.”

Harry Hazelton made an unpleasant grimace. “I
feel like a scoundrel of the worst sort, but it can’t
be helped,” he muttered.

The car was soon at hand. Tom and Harry were
dressed and ready. Though their clothing suggested
the field engineer, they were none the less dressed
with a good deal of care. They entered the tonneau
of the automobile and started on their way to help
put the mine swindle through.

“Here are my engineers, gentlemen,” smiled
Don Luis, “and at least three of your number,
I believe, are well acquainted with Messrs. Reade
and Hazelton.”

Tom ascended the steps, feeling rather weak in the
knees. Then the young engineers received one
of the severest jolts of their lives.

Three of the gentlemen in that group, both young men
knew well. They were President Haynes, General
Manager Ellsworth and Director Hippen of the A.G.&
N.M. Railroad. These gentlemen Tom and Harry
had served in railroad work in Arizona, as told in
“The Young Engineers in Arizona.”

Now, in a flash, it was plain to both young Americans
why Don Luis had wanted them, especially, to report
favorably concerning El Sombrero Mine.
President Haynes and his associates in the A.G.&
N.M. R.R. had every reason in the world to trust
the young engineers, who had served them so faithfully
on another occasion. These gentlemen would believe
in anything that Reade and Hazelton backed with their
judgment.

“You?” cried Tom, with a start, as President
Haynes held out his hand. Then, by a mighty
effort, Reade recovered himself and laughed easily.

“And we’re equally surprised to find you
here, Reade, and you, Hazelton,” rejoined President
Haynes. “But we feel more at home, already.
You know, Reade, we’re quite accustomed to looking
upon anything as an assured success when you’re
connected with it.”

“And, in its way, this mine is the biggest success
we’ve backed yet,” Tom declared readily.

Don Luis Montez, though he was keenly watchful, was
delighted so far.

“What do you really think of this mine, Reade?”
broke in Mr. Ellsworth. “Is it all that
a careful investor would want?”

“If you’re getting what I think you are,”
Tom answered, “you’re getting a lot more,
even, than you might be led to expect. El Sombrero,
if it includes the limits that I suppose the tract
does, will be worth a great deal more than you are
paying for it.”